Gas again tops $4 per gallon as Iran fighting persists

Drivers can expect pump shock déjà vu as the national average gas price again climbed over $4 per gallon today, as President Trump appears poised to escalate the war in Iran.

The big picture: Tanker traffic is once again being choked in the Strait of Hormuz after fighting between Iran and the U.S. reignited, with Washington reinstating a naval blockade that could dramatically escalate tensions.

• Oil prices have risen as the conflict has escalated and the memorandum of understanding between the U.S. and Iran unravels.

Driving the news: The national average is now $4.00 a gallon, per AAA.

Catch up quick: Last month, prices slipped back below $4 per gallon, giving some relief following months of pain at the pump.

• As a result, Americans reported feeling better about the economy. Majorities of Americans in multiple polls had blamed Trump to some extent for the pump shock.
• While the current average per gallon is below recent highs, it's up 86 cents year-over-year.

State of play: Trump weighed expanding U.S. military strikes on Iran on Tuesday as he huddled with his team in a Situation Room meeting where they discussed a massive offensive wider in scope than the current bombardments.

• U.S. Central Command has said the recent strikes were in response to Iran's attacks on commercial shipping and aimed to further degrade Tehran's military capabilities.

What we're watching: As the Strait of Hormuz crisis ensnares global markets, countries and companies are scrambling for ways to bypass the waterway.

Go deeper: Rise in gas prices caused "financial hardship" for two-thirds of households surveyed